A.T. Still's legacy lives on

Thursday

Apr 17, 2014 at 11:30 AM

A.T. Still, father of osteopathic medicine, enshrined in Hall of Famous Missourians

Jason Hunsicker @JHunsicker_KDE @jhunsicker_kde

A journey that began more than 130 years ago celebrated another milestone Wednesday morning in Jefferson City, as Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, father of osteopathic medicine, took his place amongst the state’s most important residents in the Hall of Famous Missourians.

Dr. Still was inducted during a ceremony at the state capitol building, with his descendants both in terms of family and practice filling the Mo. House chamber to celebrate his memory.

Thanks to technology available now that likely wasn’t even dreamed of in Dr. Still’s time, a group of ATSU faculty, staff and students gathered 120 miles north in Kirksville to witness the induction live.

Neal Chamberlain, ATSU professor in the department of microbiology and immunology, looked on from the university with pride.

“It made me feel really good that the state of Missouri would recognize A.T. Still and his accomplishments,” Chamberlain said.

“Kirksville had a big part in keeping the profession alive and providing funding in the early days to keep the school alive so we could continue this tradition. The small town of Kirksville has made a huge contribution to the world, so I’m proud to be here today.”

That worldwide impact was noted by several speakers, including Dr. Henry Petry, president of the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons. He noted Still’s first class of students consisted of just 17, while the profession has grown to include more than 83,000 nationwide.

“He forever changed the medical field,” Dr. Petry said.

Adrienne White-Faines, executive director of the American Osteopathic Association, called the profession one of the fastest growing in the nation, all built on the “insightful, committed and compassionate vision” of Dr. Still. She said 25 percent of all medical students in the U.S. are enrolled in colleges of osteopathic medicine.

Dr. Still’s methods and theories were, in his time, somewhat controversial, as he failed to gain acceptance in numerous communities before arriving in Kirksville in 1875. He founded The American School of Osteopathy in 1892. That school is now A.T. Still University.

His theories of treating the whole patient, not just reacting to the symptoms, and recognizing the structures and functions of the human body are interconnected have now become common in all medical education and foundations.

“We recognize now that Dr. Still’s legacy was truly a century before his time,” White-Faines said.

The event was emceed by Rep. Nate Walker (R-003), who Mo. Speaker of the House Rep. Tim Jones (R-110) called “instrumental” in putting the day’s celebration together.

Walker said it was his “great honor” to represent Kirksville and the entire third district where Dr.

Still “spent much of his life in pursuit of improving medicine and health care.”

Chamberlain said those are traits he hopes the assembled students understand and embrace.

“I’m hoping they’ll feel a sense of pride in being part of a profession that is patient centered and wants to help people. Most of those students are those people already. They came here because they want to help others. I hope they continue that and realize that’s what A.T. Still wanted them to do, and carry on that legacy of helping others,” he said.

The event included appearances by Dr. Still’s great–great–granddaughters Rachel Hodson and Julianne Hunter, who delivered the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, respectively.

His great–granddaughter, Marty Wadlin, said Dr. Still would have enjoyed the way in which he was selected for the Hall.

“Dr. Still would have been so proud to be the first person elected by popular vote to this great honor and to be the first person elected on the Internet. He loved innovation. He invented a lot of things,” she said.

Dr. Still will take his place in the form of a sculpture created by local artist Brandon Crandall.

Still was inducted this year alongside author Robert Heinlein, women’s rights activist Virginia Minor and Missouri politician Mel Hancock.

Some other current members of the Hall include President Harry Truman, Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite and Betty Grable.